1.   Although appreciative, Gordon strongly downplays such talk.

2.   Although Bush has aggressively downplayed presidential talk, he continues to receive high poll ratings, even in states he has avoided.

3.   And Saudi officials sought to downplay talk that they were planning retribution if the White House did not take a firmer stand against Sharon.

4.   And Spurrier is the first to downplay any talk of Grossman as a Heisman candidate.

5.   Both players downplay talk of a rivalry, although peers view it as a logical offshoot of their performances.

6.   But he downplays any talk about his being the drawing card for free agents.

7.   But Rantisi downplayed talk of war between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.

8.   But she downplayed talk of trail-blazing.

9.   Cohen, on his way from Washington to his first stop in Malaysia, where he arrived Sunday, downplayed talk of civil unrest in Southeast Asia.

10.   Everett downplays talk about his being streaky, choosing instead to call his production consistent.